Millions of viewers have been watching EastEnder Little Mo dealing with the aftermath of rape. Beth Neil finds out what support is available in the North East for women after an attack.

The first thing you notice about Sarah is her smile. She is a bubbly, confident young woman. But just a year ago, everything was completely different. A friend of the family drugged and raped her, leaving her shattered, traumatised and torn apart.

"I trusted him totally. I'd known him for a number of years and he was like a brother to me. But that day, he violated me physically, emotionally and mentally. I was distraught."

The attack happened after a day out shopping together in Newcastle. They arrived back at his house in the afternoon and he made Sarah, in her 30s, a cup of coffee.

"He lived with his parents and normally his mother would have been in the house. That day she was out, but I didn't think anything of it. He was a friend of mine and my husband's and we all spent a lot of time together so I had no reason to be suspicious."

Within 20 minutes of drinking her coffee, Sarah felt paralysed, unable to move or feel anything. She knew she was being raped, but was utterly helpless. Whatever had been slipped into her drink had rendered her powerless to fight back.

"It felt as if I was shouting at him to stop, but I couldn't hear myself. It's so hard to explain what was happening. I was aware of what was going on, but looking back, the timing is really strange. Time was going fast, but really slow, if that makes sense. I remember it suddenly being over and me sorting myself out. He was acting as if nothing had happened. I phoned my husband to come and pick me up, but I was still dazed."

When Sarah's husband came to collect her, he sensed something was wrong. She was still under the influence of the drug and also in tremendous pain.

"When we got home, I just burst into tears and told my husband everything. I started vomiting and my whole body ached. I felt absolutely disgusting and I couldn't get clean."

Sarah's husband called an ambulance and she was taken straight to hospital. She told staff there what had happened and they gave her a telephone number for REACH (Rape Examination Advice Counselling Help).

"I desperately needed to speak to someone because I thought I was going mad. I kept on thinking about him and whether he was all right, which I couldn't understand. Why was I concerned about him? Maybe it was because I knew him and he'd been such a big part of my life."

A Home Office Survey in 2002 found that only 8% of rapes are carried out by strangers. Women are far more at risk from men they already know - a husband, partner, date or acquaintance. Date-rape drugs are estimated to be involved in around 20% of reported cases.

Set up in 1991, the REACH Rhona Cross Centre in Newcastle is one of eight centres across the country.

It provides confidential support and advice to victims of rape and sexual assault. "We have developed with our clients over the last 12 years," says Jackie Clark, manager of both the Sunderland and Newcastle centres. "It's so important for people to feel that there's somewhere to turn to. We provide a non-judgemental and completely confidential service."

Last year the Sunderland and Newcastle centres saw 350 people, although this figure does not include the phone support also offered. In 1996 the service was extended to help male rape victims.

"The most vital thing is that our clients feel safe here," says Jackie. "They know they can come back to us at any time. We don't wave a magic wand, but we give our clients the tools they need to move on."

EastEnders viewers have been gripped this week as Little Mo comes to terms with being raped for the second time. In Monday night's episode she broke down and told husband Billy about the attack.

It was two days after Sarah's rape that she visited the REACH centre in Newcastle for a counselling session. The room we are sitting in today is where she had that first meeting. Painted in light, airy colours, it's warm and cosy, comfortable and secure.

"It's a very private place," says Sarah. "In all the times I've been here now, I've never seen anybody except my counsellor. There's no waiting room system, which made me feel really safe and secure.

"I came into this room with one of the counsellors. Everything poured out and I was crying. I was confused, I was shocked and just crying all the time. I wondered if it was something I had done. Had I encouraged him at all? I know I'd become very close to him and told him all my confidences about family and money. He was in every little part of my life. Maybe I'd got too close. I remembered the times I'd given him a hug - had I put the wrong idea in his mind?"

Sarah's counsellor, who is sitting in the room with us, explains that this is a common reaction. It took Sarah a long time to accept that the attack was not her fault. And when the shock faded and the true impact of the attack hit her, it was just the start of Sarah's emotional journey to recovery.

She went to the GUM clinic at Newcastle's General Hospital to face a distressing examination for sexually transmitted infections. Not only had Sarah been raped, but her attacker had given her chlamydia as well.

"I just started to feel really angry. How could he have done this to me? He must have planned it carefully, which was so scheming. But then I started to have these other feelings, thinking about him all the time and wondering if he was all right. I couldn't understand why I was feeling that way and I struggled with it for a long time.

"I know it sounds weird, but I'd been so close to this man, there was a gap in my life now that he wasn't there. I had to go through a grieving process and think of him as being dead. It was the only way I could get over it."

One thing Sarah was adamant about was that she couldn't face going to the police. Frightened that it would be his word against hers and desperate to avoid what would be a harrowing court case, she remained silent.

Sadly, thousands of other rape victims like Sarah also decide against reporting the attack to the police. The British Crime Survey estimates that for every rape reported, another seven go unreported. However, she chose to take advantage of a special Northumbria Police service whereby victims of sexual assault can report the name of their attacker anonymously. At least this way, the police have a record of the man's details.

"I just felt I had far too much to cope with. I think Northumbria's service is really good because it made me feel as if I had done something to help. The people at REACH never put any pressure on me to go to the police and my husband said he would support me whatever I decided to do. I'm not completely ruling out reporting it, though. If I saw another woman had come forward, that would definitely give me the push to go to the police."

Sarah was determined that the rape wasn't going to rule her life - she resolved to make something positive come out of something so unspeakably awful.

"I've gone back to college," she smiles. "It's made me realise that life is far too short. I didn't go out on my own for ages after it happened and for the first three months I couldn't bring myself to go into town. I didn't want to risk bumping into him.

"But now I'm going to make sure that this doesn't beat me. My relationship with my husband has grown stronger and I feel like a new person. REACH has been so important in helping me through this and learning to trust people again.

"Sometimes a smell or someone I see can trigger off bad memories and I think I'll always put a distance between myself and new people. But I can see a light now that simply wasn't there a year ago."

*Sarah's name has been changed

Contact REACH Monday-Friday between 9am and 6pm on (0191) 212 1551 (Newcastle) or (0191) 565 3725 (Sunderland). If no-one is available, leave a message and someone will get back to you.

Overhaul of police procedure annonced

Northumbria Police has drawn up new guidelines for handling allegations of serious sexual assault ahead of next year's implementation of the Sexual Offences Act.

Det Supt Tony Thornton, who led the team which reviewed the policy, said: "Northumbria police is committed to the professional, ethical and compassionate investigation of such offences. The foundation of the policy is that we accept reports of serious sexual assault made by victims or third parties as genuine, with all allegations thoroughly and ethically investigated and recorded."

The force aims to maximise conviction rates and give the best possible support to victims. Details of the new policy have been published on the force website, www.northum bria.police.uk

Dozens of officers throughout the force have been trained as sexual offence liaison officers (SOLOs) to deal with the care of victims.

The review, which uses the latest forensic techniques involving DNA, was the first of its kind in the UK when it was set up in February last year and is now being used as a model by other forces.

At a result, at the end of November, Gary James Mitchell from Birtley was found guilty of raping a woman back in 1987. He is due to be sentenced in the new year.

Det Insp Garry Dixon said: "Operation Phoenix underpins the commitment of Northumbria Police to the investigation of rape, no matter how long ago the attack took place. This conviction is part of the continuing success of Operation Phoenix, and demonstrates once again how it is creating new opportunities to bring offenders to justice."

The new Sexual Offences Act will provide police with greater powers to crack down on sex offenders who try to evade registration.

The government says the new legislation will give better protection for the most vulnerable, particularly children.

It will also provide a clear, coherent and effective set of laws that better respond to today's types of sexual abuse, for example paedophile use of the internet.

Sex offences will be modernised so they do not discriminate on grounds of gender and penalties leading to more appropriate punishment of abusers will be put in place.

Alert on drug rape

Revellers are being urged to watch their drinks as the party season gets into full swing.

Drug rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK and police are anxious to promote awareness of the dangers. There are more than 40 date-rape drugs.

Newcastle-born solicitor, Lynda Greenwood, set up the Roofie Foundation in 1997, after her drink was spiked on a blind date. The free helpline offers support and information to victims of drug related rape or sexual assault.

Up to July this year, more than 6,000 cases of drug rape or sexual abuse were reported to the helpline, with 642 victims from the North East.

Spokesman Graham Rhodes said: "People should always be aware of the danger that, wherever you are, someone may try to spike your drink.

"Never leave a drink unattended. If you go to the loo, take your drink with you. If, for whatever reason, you have left it unattended, do not drink it. If a stranger offers you a drink, do not accept it.

"Even if workmates or acquaintances offer you a drink, make sure you see it either poured or opened and ensure no one touches it except the bar person prior to drinking it.